January 9, 1000 gifts, 3 at a time

the gifts or blessings today are: a gift in the hand, a gift you walked by, a gift you sat with.   I am going to show these in reverse!

A gift I sat with is this handmade knit blanket. I have had a head cold this week and even though the temperatures got into the 70's!!! yesterday I had the chills.

This was handmade by a lady who is now living in Spain. She spends part of her time here in the states and part in Spain. What I love about handmade things is that I am always reminded of the person who made it which in turn gives me a good , warm , feeling all over. It also reminds me to pray for the person.

Next is the gift I walked by---now I did not really walk by this since I was sick--but I saw this out my window and it made me smile (which is a good thing to do, eh?!)

These dogs were jumping around, swimming and frolicking. The black one was much more bold! I love the freedom and fun they exhibited.

The last thing--a gift in hand is this book my son gave me for Christmas


I will close with a prayer from it that spoke to me "

"My Son, speak thou thus in every matter, 'Lord, if it please Thee, let this come to pass.  Lord, if this shall be for Thine honour, let it be done in Thy Name.  Lord, if thou see it good for me, and approve it as useful, then grant me to use it for Thy honour.  But if thou knowest that it shall be hurtful unto me, and not profitable for the health of my soul, take the desire away from me! For not every desire is from the Holy Ghost, although it appear to a man right and good.  It is difficult to judge with certainty whether a good or an evil spirit move thee to desire this or that, or whether thou art moved by thine own spirit.  ........Therefore, whatsoever seemeth to thee desirable, thou must always desire and seek after it with the fear of God and humility of heart, and most of all, must altogether resign thyself, and commit all unto Me and say, "Lord, thou knowest what is best; let this or that be, according as Thou wilt.  Give what Thou wilt, so much as Thou wilt, when Thou wilt.  Do with me as Thou knowest best , and as best shall please Thee, and as shall be most to Thine honour.  Place me where Thou wilt, and freely work Thy will with me in all Things.  I am in Thine hand, and turn me in my course.  Behold, I am Thy servant, ready for all things; for I desire to live not to myself but to Thee...."

Light and Shadow

In giving thanks today for the 1000 gifts (3 a day) --the joy dare involves "light that caught you, a reflection that surprised you, a shadow that fell lovely. This first picture is of light that caught me


My hubby had opened the curtains wide and the immense pleasure of the light spilling on the tabletop just made me smile.  The next picture --a reflection that surprised you-- was on this little unique vase that sits on the tabletop


This vase holds just one flower. It is made of pottery . My son purchased this for me in the Mountains of Saluda, NC. I loved how the sunlight reflected on the top of the vase.



Last of all a shadow that fell lovely---this one was a surprise for me! It also includes a reflection




This is a pond that sits outside our window. It has a large fountain  which causes the rippling of water which is reflected on the grass. The larger shadows are the tree trunks of the pine trees---why are they bent?   It has to do with the shadows in the water and then on the grass-- it struck me as beautiful.  I am thankful for light and how it changes things. I can apply this whole thing Spiritually too, of course! We celebrated Epiphany this week which includes the concept of Jesus being this light of the world. Light changes things! Jesus is the great light spoken of in Is 60:1--and as John 1 says--The Light of the world. The beauty of regular light and all of its splendor can speak to me about his greater light.

Here is a poem written by a sixth grader:

Light
Heavenly, Bright
Shining, Warming, Uplifting
Colorful, White, Shaded, Playful
Cooling, Dancing, MockingMischievous, Cantankerous
Shadow


I am linking to Spiritual Sundays here:http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/

January 7: giving thanks

 Today we are to give thanks for 3 graces of people we love in our lives.  I give thanks for my Husband who has been very patient with me this year as I have been exploring a deeper faith.

I give thanks for my sons, and in particular my oldest one , for the grace of debate--I find tossing ideas around to be very helpful in my learning.

And last of all , I am thankful for my 3 grand children and all the vigor of life they express, the wonder of all that is around us, and the fun part of their expressions of love and of thought. People are one of the greatest blessings and such a means of grace in our lives.

linking to:http://onethousandgifts.com/  Ps. just have to say, my two sons were trying to give me a weird look in the middle picture I posted--not sure if they brought it off! ha!

What to do with old Christmas Cards

I had my Christmas Cards hanging in this doorway and decided to re-invent their use. I glued family photos--mainly from the past two months on the cards. It has made me happy for  now!


 so  The above are  pictures of some of the pictures I have glued to the cards so this is why they are blurry.

Giving Thanks challenge Jan 6

 Today, January 6  Ann Voscamp's joy dare asks us to count the gifts in your bag, fridge and in your heart. The above notebook I  use to journal in....I have found these in Walmart and they are about 6 by 9 --they have a magnetic clasp which is nice and a ribbon to mark your place. These have been an aid in study, prayer and confession---a place to put ideas and poems too. I have found them very helpful in my walk with the Lord.

 In my frig-is this goat cheese with chives which really adds flavor to many dishes , but is great on rice crackers--I love thinking about all that would go into making this.
    As far as what is in my heart......I would say I am thankful for thankfulness and mercy. Mercy from God that enables great thanksgiving. I am so thankful for the richness of the Christian faith. 


I am linking to Ann V.'s facebook here:https://www.facebook.com/onethousandgifts

trying to do January's Dare starting today

I like this idea by Ann Voskamp who wrote, One Thousand Gifts. If you go to this link: http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/01/the-1-habit-your-new-year-cant-do-without-giveaway/ She has a printout for the month of January to aid in giving thanks. If you give thanks for 3 things a day you will meet the goal of giving thanks for about 1,000 things for the year of 2012. This is a real help in developing joy!  Today is 1. giving thanks for something you are reading:

I am thankful for this book on the Church Fathers that I have started reading. It helps to see what the early Fathers believed and it is an aid and confirmation of my faith.

Secondly 2. something I am making--a cup of Tazo tea--it is strong and bold and hot and is helping my sore throat. Thirdly 3. Something I am seeing--and that is her blog :

I want to try to do the dare of counting 1,000 gifts in 2012: Discovering joy as stated here:http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/01/the-1-habit-your-new-year-cant-do-without-giveaway/
Join in as she has several give aways too to aid you!


I have to play catch up so for Jan 1 it was 3 things about yourself you are grateful for: I have basic health today, I have the ability to read, I am growing in my faith.
January 2: a gift outside--beautiful birds at my feeder
a gift inside--warm heat, a gift on a plate--gluten free bread
January 3 --3 lines you overheard that were graces--God's conversion of Paul, Peter's talk with Jesus after Peter had denied him, a person weeping and another giving comfort.
Jan4 --one gift old, new and blue--old--a lent book, new --a new book ;-), blue another new book (YEAH, I like books!)

A New Year and a wish

On Christmas Eve morning we took a walk on the beach---this is a great time of the year to take a walk---you have most of it to yourself!!  The Thing I desire most this year is peace of heart. As I thought about this today I happened across this prayer written by St. Bede (673-735)


God, the truest peace, we ask you
to keep our hearts and minds
 in calm and in peace,
for where there is peace
you also are present
and where you are, everything is yours.
Come, then, O Lord, and so possess us
that we may become a sanctuary
for your Holy Spirit.
Glory to you Father,
with your only begotten Son,
by whom you give life
with the Holy Spirit
forever. Amen


I need more conscious "walking in the Spirit"....listening to Him.....it is hard for me to do this since I am often full of talking to Him.